SELAH — Sequim picked up two victories at the Class 2A state softball tournament, but was eliminated short of the trophy round.
The Wolves bounced back from an opening round defeat to win two consolation games and survive the first day of the tournament, only to be knocked out of trophy contention in a 7-4 loss to Selah on Saturday at Carlon Park.
“We were in it the whole way,” Wolves coach Mike McFarlen said of the game against Selah.
“The tears were flowing when the game was over.”
Sequim fell 11-3 to Othello in their opening round contest Friday, but rallied to edge Lynden 11-10 and held off Ellensburg 7-5 to stay alive.
“I’m proud of the fight the girls showed to stay alive,” Wolves coach Mike McFarlen said.
“They could have folded after the first game.”
He said Othello was a state championship-caliber team. And indeed, the Huskies tripped up Fife 3-1 to win the title.
Sequim put itself in a quick hole in its second game, allowing five runs in the first inning of its loser-out game against Lynden.
“We came back and got five runs in the bottom of the inning to tie it up,” McFarlen said.
“Emily Copeland, our rock at catcher all season, she hit a home run, a three-run home run, to tie it up.”
The Wolves added five runs on five hits in the sixth inning to take an 11-8 lead.
Sequim allowed two runs on three hits with one out in the seventh, but picked up two outs with the tying runner aboard to seal the game.
The Wolves opened up a 5-1 lead against Ellensburg through four innings, highlighted by a three-run home run by Adrienne Haggerty.
“That was her first career home run,” McFarlen said.
Sequim held on as the Bulldogs rallied in the final frames.
“They had two outs, two on and the tying run at first in the seventh, but we were able to get out of it,” McFarlen said.
He said his team’s solid play at state wasn’t a shock.
“I thought everybody played really well,” McFarlen said.
“Others might be surprised we were able to win some games, but I wasn’t surprised.”
He pointed to the strong play of two freshmen, Isabelle Dennis and Bobbi Sparks, as crucial factors in the team’s success.
“We had two freshmen play great,” McFarlen said.
“Isabelle Dennis at first base and Bobby Sparks at second, they both stepped it up at state.
“I think Isabelle batted over .500 for the tournament.”
Sequim loses some sterling seniors to graduation.
“They’ve had a big impact on me because those seniors, I’ve been coaching them since they were in Little League, since they were 9-year-olds,” McFarlen said.
“But this program is a good program, we will keep rebuilding and keep after it.”
